There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,” and an optimist who says, “Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.” Either way nothing happens. -Yvon Choiuinard, rock climber, environmentalist, and founder of the outdoor clothing company Patagonia Admiral James Stockdale was the…
A cliché and a joke about money and happiness: The cliché: Money can’t buy happiness. The joke: Those who say money can’t buy happiness just don’t know the right places to shop. My son, Colton, added the perspective of an adrenaline-seeking young adult when we were discussing this topic around the dinner table recently by…
The year was 1986. I was a junior in college and I had a new “McIntosh Plus” computer. This was the first computer I ever owned and I was not quite sure what I could do with it besides using the word processor to write papers. I had heard that many people were finding computers…
Another simple way to budget is the cash/envelope method. If you examine your spending habits you will likely find that much of your spending is fixed. You can’t do a lot immediately about your mortgage or rent, car payment, or basic utilities. To quickly gain control of your budget your discretionary spending is usually the…
Now I will tell thee an unusual truth about men and sons of men. It is this: That what each of us calls our “necessary expenses” will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary… All men are burdened with more desires than they can gratify. – George S. Clason, Author…
If you’re lucky you will be getting a tax refund check from the Department of the Treasury in the coming weeks. Here are some tips on how best to use your refund to assist you in accomplishing your financial goals: Don’t Spend Your Refund Before You Receive it: Many tax preparers offer loans against your…
“We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs.” Andy Grove, Founder and CEO of Intel A lot of people have a serious aversion to the word Budget. You mention it and you immediately lose them. Their eyes glaze over, they look uncomfortable, and they try to change the subject. I think budgets…
I love basketball, and when I was younger played frequently. Sometimes in a pick-up game we would be playing hard, but no one was keeping score. After a while someone would say, “First team to 20 wins.” The intensity would immediately pick up, especially on the defensive end, and suddenly everyone became more focused. Other…
Speaking on a topic that had nothing to do with personal finance Dieter F. Uchtdorf , a counselor in the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said the following: The what is important in our work, and we need to attend to it. But it is in the why……
Who Was Micawber and What is His Principle? In the book David Copperfield, written in 1850 by Charles Dickens, the orphaned title character is sent to work in a factory in another town. Arrangements are made for young David to rent a room in the home of Wilkins Micawber. Mr. Micawber is fond of offering…
